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Monette breaks world record, Goulet-Nadon sweeps at Canadian Open

Jean-François Monette of Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que., broke the world record in the men’s 1,000 metres Sunday and Amélie Goulet-Nadon of Laval, Que., completed a sweep of all four events at the Canadian Open short track speed skating championships.

Monette, a substitute on the Olympic team last year, clocked 1:25.66 in the final to set the world mark. Steve Robillard of Montreal held the previous mark at 1:25.98 set in 2001. Jonathan Guilmette of Montreal was second in the race in 1:25.72 and Éric Bédard of Ste-Thécle, Que., third in 1:25.73.

In the 3,000, Monette earned his third win this weekend clocking 5:10.71 with Guilmette second in 5:13.01 and Mathieu Turcotte of Sherbrooke, Que, third in 5:17.91.

In the overall standings, Monette took the crown with 3,130 points, Guilmette was second at 2,718 and Bédard third at 2,221. Turcotte was fourth at 1, 948 and Jeff Scholten of Fredericton, who broke the 500 world mark Saturday, was fifth at 1,610.

‘’I’ve been a backbencher on the Canadian team the past seasons but I made up for it this year,” said Monette, who won the 500-metre World Cup title this season. ‘’The difference this year for me was maturity. With the retirements at the start of the year it allowed to get on the World Cup circuit early. That showed me I could be among the world’s best.’’

In women’s competition, Goulet-Nadon, a triple World Cup champion, took the 1,000 and 3,000 and finished first overall with a perfect 4,000 points.

In the 1,000 Goulet-Nadon, 20, clocked 1:33.87 with Tania Vicent of Montreal second in 1:34.33 and Alanna Kraus of Abbotsford, B.C., third at 1:35.16.

In the 3,000, Goulet-Nadon was first in 5:18.94, Vicent second in 5:22.98 and Kraus third in 5:29.80.

‘’I’ve often had trouble in the 1,000 but I won it at the last World Cup race and that gave me confidence,’’ said Goulet-Nadon, who is headed to the world championships later this month. ‘’I’ve had a great season but I don’t feel pressure for the worlds. I’m confident and in great shape. If I do well there, it’ll be the cherry on the cake.’’

Following Goulet-Nadon in the overall standings were Vicent at 3,114, Kraus at 2, 441, Annie Perreault of Rock Forest, Que., at 2,264 and Amanda Overland of Cambridge, Ont., at 1,624.

The top-five overall are expected to be named to the world championship teams with the top-three overall racing the individual events. The official announcement will be made by Speed Skating Canada on Monday.

The world team championships are March 15-16 in Sofia, Bulgaria and the world championships March 21-23 in Warsaw.